Continuous kiln



(No Model.) r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. W. RADFORD.

CONTINUOUS KILN.

No. 484,237. PatentedOot. 11,1892.

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- (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheep 2,

W. RADFORD. oommnous 'KILN.

' N0. 484,237. I Patented 001;. 11,1892.-

7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM RADFORD, OF SAN JosE, CALIFORNIA.

CONTINUOUS KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,237, dated October 11, 1892.

Application filed April 25, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that [,WILLIAM RADFORD, a citinen of the United States, residing at San Jose, Santa Clara county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Continuous Kilns; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of burning-kilns which are continuous or semi-continuous; and it consists in certain details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying-drawings, in which- Figure l is a horizontal cross section through my kiln on line at at, Fig. 2. Fig. 2is alateral vertical cross-section on line Y Y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailcross-section on line U U Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section on line Z Z, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section through one of the chambers on line V V, Fig. 1.

The object of my invention is toprovide certain improvements in that class of kilns comprising a series of successive adjacent chambers into which the wares to be burned are placed.

It consists in a means of more effectively applying the heat to various parts of the burnlng-chambers when in operation and a means for transferring a portion of the heat from the completed wares to chambers containing unburn ed wares,whereby greater economyof fuel and efiectiveness of work are produced.

In the present case I have shown a series of chambers A, arranged successively in an elliptical or rectangular form, so as to form a continuous structure; but it will be manifest that this structure may be made to terminate and become semi-continuous, if desired. The chimney is situated outside of the structure, and connection is made with it by an underground flue extending beneath the chambers. These chambers are shown so arranged with relation to each other as to leave an interior court B, from which a portion of the work may be done. Upon each side of each of the chainbers is a fire-hole 0, through which fuel is introduced into the lower part of the chambers, as needed, the wares being so arranged as to allow this to be done, and upon each side I have also shown supplemental exterior furnaces C, built in the thickness of the outer Serial No. 430,624. (No model.)

toward the center, with ash-pits and draftopenings beneath them.

Each of the firing-places C and (J is in line with the large openings Q, through which access is had to the interior of the kiln, and have small doors or openings through the larger ones, by which access is had to the fires, as required. I have also shown passages E, extending downwardly beneath the floors from the outside to the center, and these passages upon each side connect with the central passage F, extending all the way around the kiln beneath the floor thereof and connecting with the chimney. The openings E may be closed by dampers G, which are movable by ho'ok-rods H, introduced through openings in the outer doors I, which close the exterior openings or passages I.

Upon the top of the furnace, extending all the way around above the chambers, is a centrally-located passage .I. This passage has branches K'opening out from its sides at intervals and extending part way down the sides of the chambers, as shown in the transverse sect-ion, Fig. 2, and openings from these passages lead into the upper portion of the sides of the chambers and are controlled by dampers L, operated from above, so that any one. or more of these passages maybe opened to admit heat from the passage J into the up- In addition to the side openings K, leading from the passage J, I have also shown at intervals central openings 0, connecting the chambers J directly with the center of the top of the chambers A and provided with controlling-dampers O. Passages P extend across the structure, uniting the continuous top passage J at various points, so that heat from this passage may be transferred across the furnace at any desired point, and these passages are controlled by dampers P.

The main doors are made flaring, as shown, and the openings are closed by temporary wickets Q whenever the condition of the interior of the chambers requires it. By means of the passages E,-leading to the central subterranean passage F, which extends around the kiln, and by the use of the dampers G, it will be seen that heat may be Withdrawn from the furnace-chambers from either side and delivered into this central passage, or by closing these dampers and opening the dampers I exterior air can be admitted to assist in the proper combustion while the burning takes place or the cooling of the wares after the burning is completed.

The various bottom fires and passages previously described are arranged in succession from one side of each chamber to the other, commencing with the fire O and ending with the passage E, as shown in the floor plan view, Fig. 1. The object is to evenly distribute the heat to all parts of the chamber among the wares that are being burned to regulate it and divert it to any point as the progress of the work requires.

The work progresses regularly from chamber to chamber, as follows: Green wares are being placed in one chamber. The next one behind is filled and the large door-openings closed by wickets, (usually built up with bricks.) Heat is brought into this and the next following chamber (also filled and closed) from one or more of the chambers in which the burning has been completed and which O are lighted, and following them the fires C, 0 and M, until the Whole chamber is fully heated and the contents burned. The fires are thus reduced, and the chamber gradually cooled by opening various passages, transferring the heat therefrom, as above described, until the wares can be removed, when they are ready to receive a new charge, and then the work continues.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. -In a burning-kiln, a series of independent chambers adjacent to each other, having burning-chambers may be opened or cut off.

and the heat diverted, substantially as herein described.

3. In a burning-kiln, a series of independent chambers, main and supplemental fireplaces at the bottom with passages opening therefrom into the kiln, a continuous passage around the top of the kiln centrally above the burning-chambers, and supplemental furnaces M upon the top of the kiln connecting with said passage, and branch passagesopening from the continuous top passage into the sides of the upper part of the kiln, substantially as herein described.

4. In a kiln,a series of independent closed chambers successively arranged, a continuous passage around the kiln centrally above the burning-chambers, supplemental furnaces upon the top of the kiln,aonnecting with said passage, dampers by which the main passage is cut off at any desired point, and side passages leadingfrom the main passage into the upper sides of the kiln, together with dampers L, by which said passages are controlled and the direction of the heat changed, substantially as herein described.

5. In a kiln, a series of closed burningchambers arranged successively, a continuous passage around the top of the kiln, situated centrally above the chambers, having central and side passages connecting it with the interior of the chambers, dampers by which any or all of said passages may be closed, dampers by which the main continuous passage may be cut off at any point, a continuous passage arranged centrally beneath the floor of the burning-chambers, side openings in the lower part of the burningchambers, and passages connecting these side openings with the continuous passage beneath the floor of the kiln, whereby a downward draft from the top passage to the bottom one may be produced and the current diverted to either side, and supplemental furnaces upon the top of the kiln, connecting with said continuous passage, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM RADFORD. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. F. ASOHECK. 

